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We are delighted to announce another specialist tour for mammal and bird enthusiasts. Richard Webb has recently returned from a third, very successful mammal watching trip to Sichuan in China and we will be running a new and original small group tour, for up to six participants only.

Our first location will be Labahe, about 4 hours to the south-west at around 2,500 metres above sea level. Rouergai lies on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau at around 3,500 metres and has become the place to see Pallas’s and Chinese Mountain Cats, and Asiatic Badgers. The area is also superb for Tibetan Fox and we can expect to see double figures of this charismatic species on several days. By visiting the area in late autumn, we alsoexpect to see good numbers of ‘Tibetan’ Wolf and Tibetan Gazelle, along with large numbers of Plateau (Black-lipped) Pika and smaller numbers of Woolly Hare, Red Fox plus, if they have not already started hibernating, Himalayan Marmots.

We can also expect Black-necked Crane and Guldenstadt’s Redstart in this area along with large numbers of birds of prey which feed on the abundant pikas and offer great photographic opportunities.

At nearby Baixi we will visit an area of upland forest to look for Chinese (White-maned) Serow, Siberian Roe Deer, Tufted Deer, wild Sika Deer and Gansu Pika. We also hope to see the spectacular Blue Eared Pheasant and genuinely wild Common Pheasants, here along with other good birds such as redstarts, laughing-thrushes and Robin Accentor.

Our third site will be Tangjiahe at 1,400 metres above sea level, where we can expect to see Hogand Chinese Ferret Badger,Masked (Himalayan) Palm Civet and a wide variety of ungulates including (Golden) Takin, Chinese (White-maned) Serow, Chinese Goral, Tufted Deer, Reeve’s Muntjac and Wild Boar. Primates are represented by Tibetan and Rhesus Macaques and if we are lucky, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Richard saw one on his latest recce. Other less-likely possibilities includeNorthern Leopard Cat, Asiatic Black Bear and Forest Musk Deer along with two of three species of squirrel. Likely birds include the spectacular Golden Pheasant and hopefully the superb Tawny Fish Owl.

Access to areas and reserves in China is constantly changing, as evidenced by the fact that wild Giant Pandas in Foping, were only accessible for a three to four year period before the reserve was closed again to westerners. (If you wish to visit one of the Giant Panda ‘rehabilitation’ centres, before or after the tour, please contact us to extend your flights)

We believe that Labahe, Rouergai and Tangjiahe currently offer some of the best mammal-watching in the Eastern Palearctic and should not be missed.

Day 15 – Early hours departure non-stop back to London Gatwick, arrive early morning.

Please note: All itineraries are subject to weather, local conditions and final approval by the relevant authorities.

Dates:20th October – 3rd November 2019

Leaders: Nigel Goodgame plus local guides.

Cost: £3985 per person sharing a twin room.

Single supplement: £375

Deposit: £850

Group size: 6 plus leader

2020: This tour will run 5th to 19th October AND 20th October - 4th November (to be led by Nigel Goodgame and local guides). You may advance register for £50pp (refundable).

Price includes: International economy class flights from London Heathrow or Manchester to Chengdu including pre-paid taxes, all ground transportation in MPV and 4x4s, accommodation with private facilities and meals, park entry fees, services of WildWings leader and local guides, day by day mammal and bird checklist for your use on tour.

Price excludes: travel insurance, laundry bills, drinks (tea/coffee included with breakfast, water with lunch), other items of a personal nature, gratuities to local guides and drivers.

Richard’s 2012 and 2016 recce trip mammal and bird lists can be found above, along with the highly successful 2017 tour report, from the tour reports tab.

2017 mammal list

Tibetan Macaque

Golden Snub-nosed Monkey

‘Tibetan’ Wolf

Red Fox

Tibetan Fox

Red Panda

Siberian Weasel

Mountain Weasel

Steppe Polecat

Asiatic Badger

Hog Badger

Chinese Ferret Badger

Masked (Himalayan) Palm Civet

Northern Leopard Cat

Chinese Mountain Cat

Pallas’s Cat

Wild Boar

Blue Sheep

Reeves’s Muntjac

Siberian Roe Deer

Tufted Deer

Red Deer (introduced)

Sambar Deer

Chinese Serow

Common Goral

Golden Takin

Tibetan Gazelle

Swinhoe’s Striped Squirrel

Pere David’s Rock Squirrel

Pallas’s Squirrel

Red & White Flying Squirrel

Complex-toothed Flying Squirrel

Grey-headed Flying Squirrel?

Woolly Hare

Plateau (Black-lipped) Pika

Confucian Niviventer

Dates:

20th October – 3rd November 2019 5th to 19th October 2020 20th October - 4th November 2020

WildWings are a division of Strand Travel Ltd. Based in London.
The Company have been trading for more than 25 years. We are fully bonded and licensed with ABTA (G7745) and hold CAA ATOL License 5429. Payments for your travel arrangements may be made by cash, cheque, bank transfer and/or UK debit card. (Credit Cards are accepted from Non-EU residents only, a 3% surcharge will apply) All information/products and prices on this website are subject to change without notice.Facebook